"The inductees tonight will join the other 56 impressive inductees that have been added to the San Fernando Valley Business Hall of Fame since 2008.
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- Fritz Coleman, introducing the 2019 SFV Business Hall of Fame
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VICA Honors Valley Businesses at 2019 Hall of Fame Dinner
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2019 San Fernando Valley Hall of Fame Inductees.
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At VICA's 12th Annual San Fernando Valley Business Hall of Fame Dinner on Thursday, we celebrated 70 years of partnership with business and community leaders of the San Fernando Valley. Seven businesses, representative of each decade VICA has been serving the Valley, were honored for their active involvement in growing the communities they serve. In her welcome speech, Millie Mia, Vice President at US Bank, remarked she was "delighted to recognize the local companies that are contributing to the success, economic vitality, and growth of the San Fernando Valley." Tim Gaspar, owner of Gaspar Insurance Services, also noted that "VICA is such an important part of the Valley. VICA works to protect businesses from harmful legislation and ballot measures...But most importantly, VICA gives us all the opportunity to gather at events like these to see old friends and make new ones."
This year's inductees were: Los Angeles Department of Water & Power; Paris Industrial Parks, LLC; Aerojet Rocketdyne; Westfield; Gaines & Stacey LLP; Pacific Federal; and California Resources Corporation. The event was presented by Gaspar Insurance Services and US Bank and co-sponsored by AT&T, Los Angeles Daily News, and The Garland. Attendees were entertained by emcee weathercaster Fritz Coleman, a proud supporter of VICA's active advocacy towards serving the business community of the San Fernando Valley. The event was held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
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Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
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Hall of Fame Inductee Martin Adams (
LA Department of Water & Power
) and Award Sponsor Natasha Fooman (
California Financial Service Providers Association
).
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The
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
, the largest municipal water and power utility in the nation, was established more than 100 years ago to deliver reliable, safe, and affordable water and electricity to the 4 million residents and businesses in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
is committed to continuing to provide their essential water and electric service in a fair and equitable manner.
Martin Adams accepted the award, saying that "it is a great honor to represent the 10,000 men and woman who bring you water and power every day of the year - every second of every minute of every day."
LADWP's award was sponsored by California Financial Service Providers Association.
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Paris Industrial Parks, LLC
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Presenting Sponsor Millie Mia (
US Bank), Hall of Fame Inductee Sanford Paris (
Paris Industrial Parks), Presenting Sponsor Tim Gaspar (
Gaspar Insurance Services), and Award Sponsor Robin Choi (
Wells Fargo).
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Established in 1968,
Paris Industrial Parks, LLC has developed industrial property in the San Fernando Valley. Originating in Canoga Park,
Paris Industrial Parks expanded by building in Pacoima, North Hollywood, Van Nuys, Camarillo, Chatsworth, and Simi Valley. With a staff of two, owner Sanford Paris currently oversees the management of 700,000 feet of industrial property.
Following his award, Sanford Paris noted that "the first thing I did after buying my stationary and business cards was join VICA. I am very happy I have all these years."
Paris Industrial Parks, LLC was presented their award by
Wells Fargo.
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Presenting Sponsors Millie Mia (US Bank), Tim Gaspar (Gaspar Insurance Services) Hall of Fame Inductee Greg Chapek and Mark Vetter (Aerojet Rocketdyne), and Award Sponsor Rob Gunsalus (California State University, Northridge).
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Established in 1915,
Aerojet Rocketdyne is a world-class developer and manufacturer of advanced propulsion and energetics systems for customers including the U.S. Department of Defense and NASA. Providing highly skilled technical jobs to more than 1,300 Valley residents,
Aerojet Rocketdyne continues to deliver solutions that create value for its customers in the aerospace and defense markets.
During Mark Vetter's acceptance of the award, he said that
"these accomplishments could not be accomplished alone, we are not an island. That is one of the reasons we work with VICA, and would like to thank them for our success as well."
Aerojet Rocketdyne's award was sponsored by
California State University, Northridge.
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Hall of Fame Inductee Larry Green (Westfield), and Award Sponsor Jill Banks Barad (LA Department of Water & Power).
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The premier global developer and operator of flagship shopping destinations,
Westfield was founded in 1959 in Australia.
Westfield has invested approximately $2 billion in the San Fernando Valley at
Westfield Topanga & The Village and at the
Westfield Fashion Square, and currently provides approximately 8,800 jobs for Valley residents and over $150 million in sales tax revenue every year.
Westfield hopes to continue to provide not only an unmatched shopping experience, but an inviting social hub for all Valley residents.
Westfield's Larry Green accepted the award, thanking "VICA for the honor of what we've done in the past, but we're also really excited about the future."
Westfield was presented their award by the
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power.
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Presenting Sponsors Tim Gaspar (
Gaspar Insurance Services
), Millie Mia (
US Bank
), Hall of Fame Inductee Fred Gaines (
Gaines & Stacey, LLP
), and Award Sponsor James Theiring (
Mission Community Hospital
).
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Established in 1997 in Woodland Hills, the law firm of
Gaines & Stacey LLP focuses on real estate related matters, specializing in land use, zoning, environmental law, and political advocacy.
Gaines & Stacey LLP attorneys have assisted clients in obtaining approvals for hundreds of development projects including Universal City Walk, the Los Angeles Jewish Home, Tarzana Village Walk, Valley Community Clinic and Canyon Creek Senior Housing.
Gaines & Stacey LLP aims to continue to provide high quality, cost-effective legal representation on behalf of the business community of the Valley.
In accepting the award, Fred Gaines echoed the importance of the business community: "I actually think the most important quality of life organization in the Valley is VICA...we grew up together and in a lot ways closer to each other...and did so using the same motto, same mission: service and advocacy."
Gaines & Stacey's award was sponsored by
Mission Community Hospital.
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Presenting Sponsor Tim Gaspar (
Gaspar Insurance Services
), Hall of Fame Inductee Jim Garrison (
Pacific Federal
), Award Sponsor Charlie Crumpley (
San Fernando Valley Business Journal
), and Presenting Sponsor Millie Mia (
US Bank
).
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Jim Garrison founded
Pacific Federal, formerly known as The Planning Corporation, in 1977. It was a licensed insurance agency specializing in Employee Benefits for large medical groups in the Southern California region. In 2017,
Pacific Federal merged with Zenith American Solutions and now operates as a Zenith American subsidiary.
Pacific Federal and Zenith American Solutions provide health and pension benefits for just under 2 million families from over 45 offices across the US.
Jim Garrison expressed how important it is to bring business together, saying that "VICA does truly the best job at communicating our concerns and advocating on our behalf in this area of Los Angeles...this really means a lot."
Pacific Federal was presented with their award by the
San Fernando Valley Business Journal.
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California Resources Corporation
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Presenting Sponsor Tim Gaspar (
Gaspar Insurance Services
), Hall of Fame Inductee Margita Thompson (
California Resources Corporation), Award Sponsor Nicholas Harrison (
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
), and Presenting Sponsor Millie Mia (
US Bank
).
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The
California Resources Corporation (CRC) is an oil and natural gas exploration and production company and California's largest oil and natural gas producer on a gross-operated basis. The
California Resources Corporation has a large portfolio of lower-risk conventional opportunities in each of Golden State's four major oil and gas basins: San Joaquin, Los Angeles, Ventura and Sacramento. The
California Resources Corporation's workforce of approximately 4,000 employees and contractors focuses on safely and responsibly supplying affordable energy for California by Californians.
Margita Thompson accepted the award, saying that "
CRC is an engine for high wage and world class jobs for Californians from every background and every education level."
California Resources Corporation's award was sponsored by
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
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